Securities class action settlements total lowest in a decade

A new study from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) found that the total federal securities class action settlement amount for 2012 hit a decade low.

According to the report, investors receive $2.3 billion in securities class action settlements last year, which is the lowest total amount since 2002. In sum, plaintiffs filed 172 securities class actions last year, the lowest amount since 2009. The second half of 2012 saw 21 percent fewer cases filed than the first half.

The PwC report echoes findings from two other recent studies from Cornerstone Research and the Stanford Law School Securities Class Action Clearinghouse, and NERA Economic Consulting. Both studies found securities class actions declined in 2012 due to a drop in the number of filings concerning Chinese reverse mergers and filings concerning mergers and acquisitions. Additionally, experts say that the absence of any event-driven litigation led to the decline.

“The plaintiffs attorneys are continuing to be very active,” she told Thomson Reuters. “Where that’s focused is yet to be seen. There’s definitely more incentive for them to work with certain potential whistleblowers in pursuing those cases.”